Dominant Lancashire finish top of T20 Blast group

Kyle Jarvis in action for Lancashire in their NatWest T20 Blast win over Durham Jets at Emirates Old Trafford

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Debut duo Usman Khawaja and Kyle Jarvis staked a claim for a place in Lancashire’s NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final side as Lightning finished their group campaign with an impressive victory over Durham Jets.

Despite being without new England Test wicket-keeper Jos Buttler, big-hitting Tom Smith, injured Andrew Flintoff and death bowler Juniad Khan, Lancashire had far too much for the Jets as they wrapped up a 27-run win at Emirates Old Trafford.

It means they finish top of the North Division and will now host the team that finishes fourth in the South Division – either Somerset or Glamorgan – next Friday or Saturday.

Smith, who was rested agaisnt the Jets, will return for that game.

But there are doubts over the fitness of Flintoff, Junaid has returned to Pakistan and won’t be returning this season while Lancashire don’t know yet if Buttler will be released by England to play in the last eight clash with the third Test against India only finishing on Thursday.

It means there could be places available both in the batting line-up and the bowling attack as Lancashire look to return to finals day for the first time since 2011 and get their hands on the trophy for the first time ever.

Khawaja, making his Lancashire T20 debut opening in place of Smith, set Lightning on their way to victory against the Jets as he and Ashwell Prince smashed 84 off just 7.1 overs for the first wicket.

The Australian made 44 from 25 balls with seven boundaries while Prince hit 43 off 23 to put Lancashire on course for a 200-plus total.

But a clatter of wickets and good bowling from Gareth Breese (3-19) and Paul Collingwood (2-21) saw Lancashire collapse to 107-5 as they lost five wickets for 23 runs in 32 balls.

Steven Croft made 31 off 28 balls, but having raced to 84 in seven overs, Lancashire added just 80 more in the next 13 as they finished on 164-8.

But it was more than enough thanks to a brilliant bowling display as Durham just couldn’t get out of the blocks.

Jarvis, who has had a poor start to the season, took 2-25 on his T20 debut for the club to put his hat into the ring to replace Junaid next weekend, Croft took 1-21 while Kabir Ali claimed the wickets of Breese and Gordon Muchall (37) in the final over to finish with 3-19.

Despite his display, Khawaja admits he would have no issues if he lost his place in the side for the quarter-final.

“I was told it would be 50/50 if I played in this competition or not when I signed,” said Khawaja, who plays for Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash. “The guys have been playing so well there hasn’t really been a spot for me, and that is fair enough too.

“You can’t kick a guy out for no reason. And even though I wanted to play I had to sit it out on the sidelines and watch the other guys do really well. If the full team came back for the quarter-final, I wouldn’t be worried if I got left out again,” he said. “They’re the ones who’ve been doing all the work through the season.”

But Khawaja believes whoever plays, Lancashire have a chance of winning the competition.

He said: “The games I have seen we haven’t really looked like losing.

“We finished top of the group, played really good cricket against some really good sides so there is no reason why this shouldn't be our year.

“We just have to keep doing what we have been doing. If it is meant to be, it is meant to be.”